Variable alignment zipper for reclosable bags

ABSTRACT

A variable alignment zipper ( 10 ) having a rib and groove interlocking means. The male interlocking profile ( 16 ) has a plurality of male ribs ( 26, 30, 32 ), each formed with a double-barbed end section. The male interlocking profile ( 16 ) is interlockable with a female interlocking profile ( 20 ), where the female interlocking profile ( 20 ) includes grooves ( 64, 68 ) formed by a plurality of male ribs ( 44, 48, 52 ). By varying the interlocking relationship of the male ribs ( 26, 30, 32 ) of the male interlocking profile ( 16 ) with the grooves ( 64, 68 ) of the female interlocking profile ( 20 ), the variable alignment zipper can align in any one of four positions for closure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in flexiblecontinuous plastic zippers of the rib and groove type wherein the ribsand grooves are sized and shaped to interlock when pressed together andto be releasable when pulled apart so as to form a reclosable zipper.More specifically, the present invention relates to a variable alignmentzipper used on a reclosable bag where the alignment of multiple ribs andgrooves provides numerous configurations for closure while maintaining abalanced tactile feel to the user when the bag is opened or closed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] The present invention relates to improvements in the packagemaking art and may be practiced in the manufacture of reclosablethermoplastic bags and packages of the kind that may be used for variousconsumer products. Such packages often include a form of peel-seal torender the pack moistured and/or airtight prior to an initial opening ofthe package. A zipper with interlocking profiles protects any remainderof the product therein after the initial opening.

[0003] The prior art for zippers with interlocking profiles is fairlywell developed but nevertheless remains open to improvements,specifically those which contribute to an ease of use. In the prior art,the Ausnit patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,325,084 and 4,787,880) disclosemultiple male profiles on both sides of the zipper halves. A limitationon the use of multiple male profiles is the opening and closing emphasisof the profiles. In an operation with two or more male profiles, thehigher force needed to open or close the profiles could convey to theuser that the zipper is being damaged. An improvement to existingzippers would be to achieve a more level tactile feel when the user isopening or closing the zipper. This balanced tactile feel is achievableby an alternative design of interlocking male and female profiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a variablealignment zipper having a rib and groove type interlocking means. Themale interlocking profile of the zipper has a plurality of male ribs,each with a double-barbed end section. The male interlocking profile isinterlockable with a female interlocking profile. The femaleinterlocking profile has a plurality of male ribs which form grooves forengaging the male interlocking profile. The bordering ribs of the femaleinterlocking profile are each shaped with a single-barbed end sectionfacing inward toward a middle male rib formed with a double-barbed endsection. By varying the engagement of the male and female interlockingprofiles, the zipper can align in any one of four positions for closure.These various alignments would each provide a balanced tactile feel tothe user during an opening or closing of the zipper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description and claims and from theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front view of the variable alignment zipper of thepresent invention attached to a reclosable bag;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipperof the present invention in a first engagement and with the view takenfrom reference line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipperof the present invention in a second engagement with the view taken fromreference line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipperof the present invention in a third engagement and with the view takenfrom reference line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the variable alignment zipperof the present invention in a fourth engagement and with the view takenfrom reference line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numeralsindicate like elements throughout the several views, a variablealignment zipper 10 attached to a reclosable bag 12 is shown in FIG. 1.A male interlocking profile 16 and a female interlocking profile 20 arealso shown as covering the length of the zipper 10.

[0012] In FIG. 2, the male interlocking profile 16 is interlocked withthe female interlocking profile 20 in a first engagement of the zipper.The male interlocking profile 16 is a resiliently flexible profileattached to a side 22 of a reclosable bag by a web portion 24. The maleinterlocking profile 16 includes three male ribs 26, 30, 32, with eachof the male ribs having double-barbed end sections (illustrated as anend section 34 for the male rib 32). The bordering of the male ribs 26,30, 32 creates grooves 35 and 36. The number and shape of the ribs canvary based on factors known to those skilled in the art.

[0013] The female interlocking profile 20 is a resiliently flexibleprofile opposite and facing the male interlocking profile 16. The femaleinterlocking profile 20 is attached to a second side 37 of thereclosable bag by a web portion 38. The female interlocking profileincludes three male ribs 44, 48 and 52. The male ribs 44 and 52 are eachformed with a single-barbed end section (illustrated as an end section56 for the male rib 44). The single-barbed end sections of the male ribs44, 52 extend laterally to the third male rib 48. The male rib 48 has adouble-barbed end section 60. The bordering of the male ribs 44 and 52to the male rib 48 creates grooves 64 and 68. The number and shape ofthe ribs can vary based on factors known to those skilled in the art.

[0014] For interlocking the male interlocking profile 16 and the femaleinterlocking profile 20 in the first engagement of the variablealignment zipper 10, the profiles are pressed together. In the firstengagement, a first male rib of the male interlocking profile 16 securesto a first groove of the female interlocking profile 20. As shown, themale rib 26 sizably conforms to the groove 68 with the male rib 26adequately secured by an integral double-barbed end section. With asingle-barbed end section on the male rib 52 of the female interlockingprofile 20, the male rib 52 slides into the groove 35 with lessresistance to and movement of the male rib 30 than if the male rib 52had a double-barbed end section.

[0015] The male interlocking profile 16 and the female interlockingprofile 20 are adapted to be separated by pulling them apart indirections 70 and/or 72 thereby breaking the interlocking relationshipof the male rib 26 with the groove 68. Similar to the closing operation,the single-barbed male rib 52 would encounter less resistance from themale rib 30 as the profiles are being pulled apart than if the male rib52 had a double-barbed end section. For the other three interlockingengagements described below, the male and female interlocking profilesare similarly pulled apart in order to separate the profiles from oneanother.

[0016] For interlocking the male interlocking profile 16 and the femaleinterlocking profile 20 in a second engagement of the variable alignmentzipper 10, the profiles are pressed together. In the second engagement,two male ribs of the male interlocking profile 16 secure to two groovesof the female interlocking profile 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the male ribs26 and 30 sizably conform to the grooves 64 and 68 respectively. Bothmale ribs 26 and 30 are adequately secured to the female interlockingprofile 20 by an integral double-barbed end section for each male rib.With a single-barbed end section on the male rib 52 of the femaleinterlocking profile 20, the male rib 52 slides into the groove 36 withless resistance to and movement of the male rib 32 than if the male rib52 had a double-barbed end section. Similar to the closing operation,the single-barbed male rib 52 would encounter less resistance from themale rib 32 as the profiles are being pulled apart than if the male rib52 had a double-barbed end section.

[0017] For interlocking the male interlocking profile 6 and the femaleinterlocking profile 20 in a third engagement of the variable alignmentzipper 10, the profiles are pressed together. In the third engagement,two male ribs of the male interlocking profile 16 secure to two groovesof the female interlocking profile 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the male ribs30 and 32 sizably conform to the grooves 64 and 68 respectively. Boththe male ribs 30 and 32 are adequately secured to the femaleinterlocking profile 20 by an integral double-barbed end section foreach male rib. With a single-barbed end section on the male rib 44 ofthe female interlocking profile 20, the male rib 44 slides into thegroove 35 with less resistance to and movement of the male rib 26 thanif the male rib 44 had a double-barbed end section. Similar to theclosing operation, the single-barbed male rib 44 would encounter lessresistance from the male rib 26 as the profiles are being pulled apartthan if the male rib 44 had a double-barbed end section.

[0018] For interlocking the male interlocking profile 16 and the femaleinterlocking profile 20 in a fourth engagement of the variable alignmentzipper 10, the profiles are pressed together. In the fourth engagement,a male rib of the male interlocking profile 16 secures to a groove ofthe female interlocking profile 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the male rib 32sizably conforms to the groove 64. The male rib 32 is adequately securedto the female interlocking profile 20 by an integral double-barbed endsection. With a single-barbed end section on the male rib 44 of thefemale interlocking profile 20, the male rib 44 slides into the groove36 with less resistance to and movement of the male rib 30 than if themale rib 44 had a double-barbed end section. Similar to the closingoperation, the single-barbed male rib 44 would encounter less resistancefrom the male rib 30 as the profiles are being pulled apart than if themale rib 44 had a double-barbed end section.

[0019] Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are mosteffectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should beunderstood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and itsscope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A variable alignment zipper comprising: a first interlockable profile having a longitudinally extending web portion and having a longitudinally extending locking portion, said locking portion of the first profile having a plurality of continuous shaped ribs extending therealong, said ribs having a central tip and barbs extending laterally at each side of the tip with the barbs providing a first interlocking contact area; a second interlockable profile having a longitudinally extending web portion and having a longitudinally extending locking portion, said locking portion of the second profile having a plurality of continuous shaped ribs extending therealong with at least one of said ribs having a central tip and a pair of barbs extending laterally at each side of the tip and with at least two of said ribs shaped with a distal end with a single barb extending laterally from the distal end with the barbs providing a second interlocking contact area; a first plurality of continuous grooves therebetween the ribs of said second profile, said first plurality of continuous grooves receptive in at least one interlocking relationship to the locking portion of said first profile.
 2. The variable alignment zipper in accordance with claim 1, further including a second plurality of continuous grooves therebetween the ribs of the first profile, said second plurality of continuous grooves receptive in at least one interlocking relationship to the locking portion of said second profile.
 3. The variable alignment zipper in accordance with claim 1, wherein said locking portion of the first fastener includes three ribs.
 4. The variable alignment zipper in accordance with claim 1, wherein said single barbs of said at least two of said ribs shaped with a distal end extend laterally to said at least one of said ribs having a central tip. 